Thermostatically controlled oil valve



July 7, 1936. w. B. MACKINTOSH THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED OIL VALVEFiled Aug. 17, 1 934 Patented July 7, 1936 ATENT OFFICE OS'I'ATICALLYCONTROLLED 'OIL VALVE William B. Mackintosh, Wabash, Ind., assignor toThe Fulton Sylphon Company,

Knoxville,

' v 20 Claims.

This invention relates to a thermostatically controlled valve mechanism,and more particularly to a. thermostatically controlled valve forregulating the flow of fuel oil to a burner.

An object of this invention is toxprovide a device of the typecharacterized which is simple and compact in construction and whichembodies within its organization separate readily adjustable means foraccurately predetermining the minimum flame and the temperature to bemaintained.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the typecharacterized wherein the adjustable means for predetermining theminimum flame and the temperature to be maintained are independent inoperation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the typecharacterized wherein the temperature-responsive means are soconstructed that upon failure thereof the valve mech-- anism movesautomatically to its position of minimum flame.

. to show interior construction Another object of this invention is toprovide a device of the type characterized which is so constructed as tofacilitate escape of entrained air and'gas from the oil flowing to thevalve to the end that the oil may be subjected to nice control by thevalvemechanism without the disturbance in the rate of flow which'mayarise where the oil flowing through the valve has air or gasentrained therein. a

Another object of this inventionjs to provide a device of the typecharacterized which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easilystandardized and highly eflicient in operation. Other objects willappear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanicalexpressions, one of which is illustra'ted on the accompanying drawing,but it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes ofillustration only, and is not to be construed as a definition of thelimits of the invention, reference being bad to the appended claims forthat p pose.

Referring in detail to the same reference characters respective figuresto indicate Fig. 1 is an axial section the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view,

drawing wherein the are employed in the corresponding parts, of anembodiment of partly broken away, and with the parts separated to moreeasily illustrate the construction and relationship thereof.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide thermostatically controlledvalve mechanism for' regulating the flow of fuel oil to a burner whereinprovision has been made for predetermining the'temperature at which thethermostat starts to diminish the flow of fuel, and means for there- 5after predetermining the minimum flame to be maintained when thethermostat has reduced the source of heat to a minimum but withoutinterrupting the flame. Devices of this character, so far as I am aware,have heretofore involved relal0 tively complicated structures which haveemployed a relatively large number of parts that not only increase thebulk, and cost of fabrication and assembly, but also afford opportunityfor the parts to get out of order and cease to func- 15 tion withprecision in the designed manner. The present invention provides a.relatively simple and compact, and readily adjusted, valve operatingunit which is composed of a relatively few, easily manufactured and.assembled elements which are so constructed and arranged as to minimizethe likelihood of the device ceasing to operate as intended. I

As shown on the drawing, the thermostatically controlled valve structurecomprises a two-part housing, one part of which is in the form of avalve casing III which may be of any suitable size, construction andmaterial and which is provided interiorly with a partition II in whichis formed a valve port l2 of any suitable size and character.Communicating with the interior of the casing l0 through aperture I3 isa conduit l4 connected to the casing ID in any suitable way, andcommunicating with the chamber l5 at the opposite side of the port I 2is a. conduit I 6 also connected to the casing III in any suitable way.One of said conduits leads from a suitable source of oil supply whilethe other leads to a suitable burner or other fuel consuming device. Thecasing it! is elongated in the direction at right angles to the axes ofconduits l4 and I6 to provide a chamber I! which has suitably formed ormounted therein a vent conduit I 8 communicating at one end with thechamber I l and at its other end with the chamber l5. As shown, saidvent conduit I 8 is formed by means of a partition l9 formed integrallywith the casing wall and also integral with the partition I I whichseparates the inlet and outlet conduits and contains the valve port H.The casing l0 may be made relatively flat or elliptical in crosssection, with its long axis in the plane of the paper as viewed in Fig.1, the total thickness of the housing in the direction at right anglesto the plane of the paper being substantially equal to the diameter ofthe bosses 65 providingfor the coupling thereto of the conduits l4 andI6. Where said housing is made flat or elliptical as just described, itmay be provided with a circular flange at its end for attachment theretoof the other attached at is'opposite end, as by soldering or valvemechanism to be I, said chamber 25 may communicate with arigid or i0brazing, to an end wall in the form of a disk 24 which may be formed asa stamping, or if preferred the end wall 24 may be formed integrallywith the bellows 22. Said end wall has a central depression so that itwill not close on the passage/to the bulb to be described when in itsextreme position. Said bellows 22 with its end wall 24 is secured in anysuitable way within the closed end of the casing 26 so as to provide anintermediate chamber 25. ,In the form shown, said bellows 22 is securedin position by means of the tubular flange 23 which is soldered orbrazed to the casing wall 28, said flange being shown as suitablypositioned-within said casing wall 2|! by a. bead 26 formed in the.cylindrical wall of said casingk y The chamber 25'between the bellows 22and easing wall 20 may be charged with a suitable thermostatic medium,as a volatile liquid, and thereby form the thermostat for operating thedescribed, or as shown flexible pipe or conduit 21 of any suitablelength having one end suitably attached to the casing wall by means ofthe coupling 28 and having its opposite end connected to a bulb 29 ofany suitable size and construction and provided with any suitable means30 whereby it may be mounted in heat interchanging relation with themedium Whose temperature is to determine the operation of the valvemechanism. In the latter event the system composed of the motor chamber25, conduit 21 and bulb 29 is charged with a suitable thermostaticmedium, as a volatile fluid. In either event, whether the thermostat isformed only by the bellows 22 and easing wall 20, with its interposedchamber 25, or composed of said chamber in combination with the conduit21 and bulb 29, said thermostat is preferably charged with the volatileliquid and its vapor under a pressure which is normally less thanatmospheric, so that the preponderance of exterior or atmosphericpressure acting on the end wall 24 tends to move .said end wall towardthe end wall 3| of the casing 20. Equalization of the internal andexternal pressures, on'the other hand, as on the occurrence of a leak inthe thermostat, will prothe end wall 24 away from said wall 3| for thepurpose hereinafter described.

Suitably connected to the end wall 24 is a valve stem 32 which extendsaxially through the housing parts 20 and I6 and is suitably providedwith or connected to a valve member 33 at its opposite end. As hereshown, the valve stem 32 has a cone-shaped portion 33 adapted to engagethe seat provided by the valve port l2 and constitute the valve member.As illustrated, the end of the valve stem 32 is threaded assho wn at 34,and

forms a guide for mountedon said threaded end is a nut 35 which engagesa collar 36 constituting a seat for a coil spring 31 which surrounds thevalve stem and, at its opposite end, engages a sleeve 38 which isslidable on said valve stem and adjustable, as hereinafter described, topredetermine the tension of spring 31. The tension of said spring 31 maybe preliminarily adjusted by the rotation of the nut 35, on the valvestem so as to vary the location of the spring seat 36. The opposite endof the valve stem 32 is provided with an enlargement 39, here shown asasleeve cut away at one side and unitarily attached to the end of thevalve stem, as by a threaded connection 40, said sleeve also affording ameans of attachment of the end wall 24 to said valve stem, the latterbeing soldered or otherwise suitably attached to said end wall.

Suitably mounted in the casing 20, as by screws 4|, isa bracket 42having flanges 43 by which said bracket may be attached to the casingwall.

- aligned and disposed generally at right angles to the location of theflanges 43. Said bracket also has a centrally arranged tubular portion46 which the tubular sleeve 38 heretofore referred to. Said bracket maybe conveniently formed by stamping and bending the four flanges fromsheet metal and the tubular member 46 may be secured thereto as byheading over a reduced tubular extension thereof as clearly shown inFig. l. Mounted on or in the flanges 44 and 45 are adjustable means forpredetermining the minimum flame and the temperature at which thethermostat starts to close the valve. As shown, flange 44 is providedwith an aperture 41, and rotatably mounted in said aperture is a cammember 48 having its inner end 49 formed eccentrically with respect toits axis of rotation and having its outer end provided with a kerf 50for engagement by a screw driver or similar implement. Said member 48may be formed in any suitable way; as shown said member has a flange 5|for engagement with the flange 44 and a stem 52 over which the eccentricelement 49 is telescoped and attached inany suitable way as by a pin.Thereby the member 48 is suitably retained in position by the engagementof cam element 49 and flange 5| with opposite faces of the flange 44.The casing 20 has an aperture 53 of suitable size to'receive the end ofsaid member 48 for ready access to the kerf 58. The eccentric or camportion 49 is in axial alignment with the inner end of the enlargementor sleeve 39, and

j the extremity 54 of said enlargement or sleeve is valve member 33 withrespect to its seat may be nicely adjusted to precisely determine theminimum flow of oil through the valve port for maintaininga minimumflame.

Rotatably mounted in an aperture 55 in the element, here shown as havinga cam or eccentric shaped flange 56. Said element 56 is provided with atubular extension 51 which is passed through the aperture 55 and thenflanged over so as to retain said element in the aperture 55 but withoutpreventing rotation thereof. Said cam or eccentric element bracketflange 45 is'a second cam or eccentric 56 has a serrated bore end 61oft-the tubular element 38.

68 for engagement with the serrated periphery 59 of the stem 60 of ahand wheel 6|. Thereby said stem may be engaged non-rotatably with saidcam or eccentricelement 56 in a variety of relative positions. The wallof the casing 20 is provided with an aperture 62 adapted to receive thestem '60, and the hand wheel is suitably attached to said stem 60 afterthe latter has been inserted through said aperture 62 to engage itsinner serrated end 59 with the serrated bore 58 of said element 56. Toprevent disengagement of the stem 60 from the element 56 said stem mayalso be provided with a groove 63 in which is engaged the bifurcated endof a wire clip 64 suitably mounted, as by the screw 65, on the flange45. In order to limit the rotation of the cam or eccentric element 56said element may be provided with one or a pair of radially projectingpins 66 adapted to engage a suitably provided stop or stops in the paththereof. As shown the inner end of the screw 65 projects into the pathof said pins 66 and limits the rotation thereof to approximately 180.The cam or eccentric element 56 is in axial alignment with the inner end61 of the tubular element38 and coil spring 31 normally holds said end61 in engagement with said cam or eccentric portion, with a tensiondetermined by the adjustment of the nut on the valve stem 32 asheretofore explained. By rotation of the hand wheel 6| the cam oreccentric element 56 may be rotated to advance or permit the recessionof said sleeve 38 with respect to the stem 32, thereby increasing ordecreasing the tension of said spring 31 and correspondingly increasingordecreasing the tendency of the valve stem to move toward closedposition as the difierential between the exterior and interior pressuresacting on the movable end wall 24 is sufficiently decreased by anincrease of pressure within the motor chamber 25. It will be observedthat the cam or eccentric element 56 therefore constitutes an adjustableabutment which predetermines the tension with which the spring 31 actson the collar move the valve stem toward indicated in Fig. 2 forcooperation with a suitable pointer or indicating mark,. as a white spot69 on the hand wheel 6|.

With the parts assembled as shown in Fig. l the valve 33 is shown open,with the cam or eccentric element 56 in position to maintain a minimumtemperature, i. e., with the maximum tension imposed on the spring 37 byreason of the fact .that the maximum radius of said cam or eccentricelement 56 is in engagement with the c The valve will remain in thisposition until the increase in pressure in the chamberx25, acting on theend wall 24, imposes such a pressure on the valve stem 32 as, added tothe tension of spring 31, will effect the'movement of the end wall 24against external or atmospheric pressure.

sure occurs within the chamber 25 the valve stem is-moved toward closedposition until the inner end 56 of the enlargement or sleeve 39 engagesthe cam or eccentric 49, here shown as in an intermediate position,whereupon the further movement of the valve member toward its seat ispositively prevented by said cam or eccentric member 49, and apredetermined minimum flow of fuel oil through the port I 2 ismaintained for the maintenance of'a minimum flame. This position of thevalve member will be retained until a decrease in temperature causes adecrease of pressure within the chamber 25, whereupon the preponderanceof external pressure acting on the end wall 24 will move said walltoward the end wall 3| and against the tension of the spring 31 to openthe valve member 33.

By rotating the element 48 until the maximum radius of the cam oreccentric 49 is in alignment with the end 54, the minimum flame may beincreased or by rotating said element until the minimum radius ofelement 49 is in alignment with the end 54, the minimum flame may bedecreased, the varying radii between said minimum and maximum the handwheel 6| radius of the cam or eccentric element 56 may be opposed to theend 61 of the tubular member 38, whereby some of the tension will betaken off of the spring 3'! and a greater pressure within the chamber 25will be required in order to overcome external pressure and move thevalve member toward its seat. Here again the varying radii between themaximum and minimum of said element permit a fine adjustment to be madeas respects the temperature which must exist in order to produce therequisite pressure to start the valve member toward its closed position.

If the thermostat should leak so that the interior and exterior pressurebecomes equalized, the spring 31 exerts an unbalanced force on the valvestem 32 and holds the valve in position for maintaining a minimum flame.Hence fluctuation of temperature will not permit the valve to openautomatically and establish a source of heat that is without automaticcontrol. Inasmuch as the vent conduit I8 is in open communication withchamber I? on the other side of the valve seat, any air or gas entrainedin the oil may escape from the free surface of the oil in said conduitH3 or in said chamber depending upon which of conduits 6 and I4,respectively, is the inlet conduit, and thus pass out through casing 20which is not air-tight. Thereby variations in the flow of the fuel oilpast the valve member due ,to the presence of bubbles of air and gastherein is avoided by reason of the venting thus provided. The wall I 9must of course be of sufiicient height so that under no radii permittinga fine ad- L circumstances will the head on the oil flowing into thechamber H or conduit l8 cause the oil to rise over the top of the walll9.

It will therefore be perceived that by the present invention a simple,compact and easily adjusted thermostatically controlled valve for fueloil has been provided wherein the parts are relatively few, easy tomanufacture and assemble, and readily adjustable. The tension ofthe'spring 37 can be readily predetermined prior to assembly by properlyadjusting the nut 35, and thereafter the minimumflame and thetemperature to be maintained can be readily adjusted by a mtatio-nofthecani or eccentric elements 48 and 56. Said adjustments areindependent and yet easily eifected when adjustment is desired, the handwheel 6| providing for ready adjustment of the temperature as desiredwhile the kerfed head 50 provides easy adjustment of the element 48 butonly by deliberate action through use of a suitable implement insertedin the kerf of said head. Owing to the manner of attachment of the stem60 with the cam or eccentric element 56 said stem may be engaged withsaid element in any one of a variety of positions so that the suitableposition for proper cooperation of the indicating element 69 with theindicia on the dial 68 can be initially determined. All of the parts areof relatively simple construction and easy to manufacture, said partsbeing for the most part composed of readily formed stampings, castingsand elements formed by simple machine operations, and therefore thedevice is relatively ,in--

expensive to manufacture, easy to standardize, and requires no highlyskilled labor in the production and assembly of the parts thereof. Owingto the simplicity of the construction as well as the relatively fewnumber of parts employed the device is not likelytoget out of order,while it is possessed of simplicity. compactness and ruggedness as wellas relatively high efliciency.

.While the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawing hasbeen described with considerable particularity, it is to be expresslyunderstood that the'invention is not restricted thereto, as the same iscapable of receivinga variety of mechanical expressions, some of whichwill now readily suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art, whilechanges may be made in the details of construction, arrangement,proportion, material, etc., of the parts, and certain features usedwithout other features without departing from the spirit of thisinvention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for adefinition of said invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a valve seat therein, a valve member for coop-leration with said seat, guide means for said valve means, a. cam oreccentric element rotatably mounted in said guide means in the path of aprojection on the stem of said valve member for predetermining a minimumvalve opening to maintain a minimum flame, a thermostat including amotor vessel the stem of said valve member and adapted to move the sametoward and away from its seat, and resilient means normally urging saidvalve member toward its seat, said motor vessel being charged with avolatile fluid at a pressure which is normally less equalization ofexternal and internal pressures causes said'resilient means to move saidvalve member to its position of minimum opening.

2. In a. valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combinationhousing having a valve seat therein,

of said valve member and the same toward and away from its seat, meansincluding a bracket for guiding said stem, resilient means cooperatingwith said valve member to move said valve member with respect to itsseat, and rotatable means mounted in said bracket and extending throughthe wall and including a cam or eccentric adjustable abutment foradapted to move element providing am said resilient means.

3. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a, valve seat therein, a valve member forcooperation with said seat, a thermostat operatively consaid spring,

operatively connected to than atmospheric whereby nected to the stem ofsaid valve member and adapted to move the same toward and away from itsseat, means including a bracket for guiding said stem, resilient meanscooperating with said valve memberto move said valve member with respectto it's seat, a sleeve slidable on the valve stem and engaging saidresilient means, and a cam or eccentric element rotatably mounted insaid bracket and engaging the end of said sleeve and rotatable to movesaid sleeve and vary the tension on said resilient means.

4: In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a valve seat therein, a valve member forcooperation with said seat, a thermostat operatively connected to thestem of said valve member and adapted to move the same toward and awayfrom its seat, means including a bracket for guiding said stem, a-springcooperating with the valve stem to move said valve member with respectto 0 nected to the stem of said valve member and adapted to move thesame toward and away from its seat, means including a bracket forguiding said stem, a spring cooperating with said valve member to movesaid valve member with respect to its seat, a sleeve slidable on saidvalve stem and engaging said spring, a cam or eccentric elementrotatably mounted in said bracket and engaging the end of said sleevefor movingthe same with respect to'said stem to vary the tension of amember mounted on said cam or eccentric element exterioriy of saidcasing for rotating the same, and indicating means associated with saidmember for indicating the con dition of adjustment of said spring.

6. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a valve seat therein, a valve member forcooperation with said seat, a thermostat operatively connected to thestem of said valve memberand adapted to move the same toward and awayfrom its seat, means including a bracket for guiding said stem, a springcooperating with said valve member to move said valve member withrespect to its seat, a sleeve slidable on said valve stem and engagingsaid spring, a cam or eccentric element rotatably mounted in saidbracket and engaging the end of said sleeve for moving the same wtihrespect to said stem to vary the tension of said spring, a membermounted on said cam or eccentric element exteriorly of the casing forrotating the same, and means between said member and said cam oreccentric element for connecting the same in a plurality of relativepositions.

7. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a valve seat therein, a valve stem provided with avalve member for cooperation with said seat, a thermostat operativelyconnected to the stem of said valve member and adapted to move the sametoward and away from its seat, resilient means cooperating withsaidvalve member to valve seat therein, a valve centric abutmentincluding a bracket *for guiding said stem, and an eccentric abutmentrotatably mounted in said bracket in the path of a stem for stoppingsaid valve member in a position to maintain a predetermined minimumflame.

eluding a bracket for guiding said stem, an ecrotatably mounted in saidbracket in the path of a projection on said valve stem for stopping saidvalve member in a position to maintain a predetermined minimum flame,and means accessible from the exterior of said housing for rotating saideccentric abutment and varying the minimum flame.

9. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a valve seat therein, a valve member forcooperation with said seat, a thermostat operatively connected to thestem of said valvemember and adapted to move the same toward and awayfrom its seat, resilient means cooperating with said valve member tomove the same with respect to its seat, a rotatable cam or eccentricelement for predetermining the tension on said spring, and a rotatablecam or eccentric element constituting a stop for predetermining themovement of said valve member toward its closed position, said elementsbeing separately adjustable.

10. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a valve seat therein, a valve eration with saidseat, a thermostat operatively connected to the stem of said valvemember and adapted to movethe. same toward and away from its seat,resilient means cooperating valve member to move the same with respectto its seat, a sleeve slidably mounted on said valve stem and engagingsaid resilient means, a cam or eccentric element rotatably mounted insaid housing and extending exteriorly thereof, said element providing anadjustable abutment for said sleeve to predetermine the tension on saidresilient means, and a cam or eccentric element rotatably mounted insaid housing and accessible from the exterior thereof, said elementlying in the path of a projection on said valve stem for adjustablypredetermining the maximum extent of movement of said valve membertoward its seat.

11. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalvehousing having a member for cooperation with said seat, athermostat operatively con nected to the stem of said valve member andadapted to move the same toward and away from its seat, resilient meanscooperating with said valve member to move the same with respect to itsseat, and means within said housing subdividing the interior thereofinto chambers which respectively communicate with the spaces at theopposite sides of said valve seat and through which air or gas mayescape from the oil flowing to the valve.

, 12. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination ofa valve housing having projection on said valve with said a valve seattherein, a valve member for cooperation with said seat, a thermostatoperatively connected to the stem of said valve member and ment for saidsleeve.

13. In a valve for regulating the flow of fuel oil, the combination of avalve housing having a provided with a tubular gwde, a sleeve slidablymounted in said guide and surrounding the valve ment on said valve stem,a cam or eccentric element rotatably mounted in said bracket andconstituting an adjustable abutment for said sleeve, a cam or eccentricelement rotatably mounted in the path of movement of a proratelyrotatingsaid cam or eccentric elements to adjustably predetermine theposition of the same.

member, resilient nected to the end of said valve stem, a casing forsaid thermostat connected to said valve casing, means including abracket for guiding said stem, and a cam or eccentric element rotatablymounted in said bracket and justable abutment for said resilient means.

17. In a thermostatic regulator for a fuel oil valve, the combination ofa generally Tshaped casing having inlet and outlet conduits and meansproviding a valve port interiorly of said casing, a valve membercooperating with said valve port, a valve stem connected to said valvemember, a resilient means for normally urging said valve stem in onedirection, a thermostat connected to the end of said valve stem, acasing for said thermostat connected to said valve casing, meansincluding a bracket for guiding said stem, and a cam or eccentricelement rotatably mounted in said bracket and disposed in the path of aprojection on said valve stem for predetermining the extent of movementof said valve member toward its seat in order to maintain a minimumflame.

18. In a thermostatic regulator for a fuel oil valve, the combination'ofa generally T-shaped casing having inlet and outlet conduits and meansproviding a valve port interiorly of said casing, a valve valve port, avalve stem connected to said valve means for normally urging said valvestem in onedirection, a thermostat connected to the end of said valvestem, a casing for said thermostat connected to said valve casing, meansmounted in said valve casing for guiding said valve stem and including abracket, and a pair of cams or eccentric elements rotatably mounted insaid bracket and separately,adjustable, one of said elementsconstituting an abutment for said resilient means and the othercoconstituting ,an admember cooperating with said.

a projection on said valve stem the extent of movement of said operatingwith to predetermine valve stem.

19. In a thermostatic regulator for a fuel oil valve, the combination ofa generally T-shaped casing having inlet and outlet conduits and meansproviding a valve port interiorly of said casing, a valve membercooperating with said valve port, a valve stem connected to said valvemember, resilient means for normally urging} said valve stem in onedirection, a thermostat connected to the end of said valve stem, and acasing for said thermostat connected to said valve casing, saidthermostat including a motor chamber charged with a volatile fluid at apressure less than atmospheric and normally tending to open said valveagainst the tension of said resilient means but permitting movement ofsaid valve member to its position of minimum opening under the action ofsaid resilient means upon equalization of internal and externalpressures.

20. In a thermostatic regulator for a fuel oil valve, the combination ofa casing having inlet and outlet conduits and means providing a valveport interiorly of said casing, a valve member cooperatingwith saidvalve port, a valve stem connected to said valve member, resilient meansfor normally urging said valve stem in one direction, a thermostatconnected to the end of said valve stem, stat connected to said valvecasing, and a ver- ,tical wall within said valve casing subdividing theinterior thereof into chambers in communication with said conduits andsaid thermostat casing whereby air or gas in the oil flowing to saidvalve generally T-shapeda casing for said thermoport may escape throughsaid thermostat casing.

WILLIAM B. MAcKmTosH.

